Read Online I Promise by Robin Jones Gunn - Free Book Online

didn’t tell me all this, Christy.”
    Rick explained about his position as the manager of The Dove’s Nest, and Marti promised she would visit the café sometime.
    â€œWhy don’t I get us something to eat?” Christy’s mom rose from the couch. “You kids must be hungry. Katie, have you and Rick eaten yet?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Katie said.
    â€œI’ll make some sandwiches.”
    Christy thought of how some things never changed. Her aunt always would find delight in holding court, and her mother always would revert to feeding people when she didn’t know what else to do.
    The next hour and a half developed some twists and turns Christy never would have imagined. Todd flipped through one of Marti’s bridal magazines in the kitchen while Christy and her mom made sandwiches. Dad went out front and busied himself hanging the wreath. Marti grilled Rick for details of his life since she had last seen him and actually listened respectfully as Rick described his new commitment to Christ and the way his life had changed.
    Twice during the conversation Christy exchanged subtle glances with her uncle. Ever since Bob had turned his life over to the Lord, tension had existed between Marti and him since Marti didn’t see eye to eye with Bob on his views of Christianity. Over the years Marti had heard it all from Christy and Todd. For somereason she seemed willing to listen to Rick. It was a mystery to Christy.
    â€œWe came by to see if you guys want to go Christmas caroling with us tonight,” Katie said after they had eaten. “A group is going to meet at the church at six and go from there.”
    Christy looked at Todd as he rose to help Christy’s mom clear the kitchen table. Moving out of the wedding-decision spotlight sounded good to Christy, and the caroling would be fun.
    â€œIt’s up to you.” Todd leaned over and spoke to Christy as he slid past her. “Your aunt and uncle have an hour-and-a-half-drive home. I think they would like a little more information from us before they leave.”
    Christy excused herself from the table and followed Todd to the kitchen sink, which was less than ten feet away from the company gathered at the table. In a low voice she said, “Are you suggesting we come up with a wedding date right now to satisfy my aunt?”
    â€œNot necessarily.”
    â€œI think you and I need to talk about it some more,” Christy said. “It needs to be our decision. Yours and mine.”
    â€œI agree,” Todd said.
    â€œSo what do we tell them?”
    â€œThat depends. Do you want to go caroling with Rick and Katie?”
    â€œSure. Do you?”
    Todd shrugged. “Whatever.”
    Just then Christy’s mom stepped over to the sink with more dishes. “Are you two going caroling?”
    â€œI guess so,” Christy said less than wholeheartedly.
    â€œWe don’t have to,” Todd said quietly.
    â€œI think we should.” Christy took a step toward her goal of being more decisive in their relationship. “After all, it is Christmas. We should focus on celebrating Christ’s birth, not on figuring out all our wedding plans in one afternoon.”
    Christy thought her statement made perfect sense. However, later that night, as she and Todd were standing side by side singing “Silent Night,” she thought of how her decision—their decision—to go caroling had prompted anything but a silent night around her parents’ house. Marti and Bob left with Marti in a controlled huff, and Bob saying, “When you two are ready, you let us know how we can help.” David reappeared and announced he had hoped Todd would take him to a movie. Mom returned a stack of board games to the closet after she realized everyone was leaving. And Todd started coughing halfway through the caroling. He stood silently at the last two houses they went to and told Christy his throat was too